Blood of Dragons

After all the courtly intrigues, the gossip, the rumors about who would become the next commander of the City Watch -- that Ser Richard would be reinstated, or Prince Aegon was going to be chosen; that Ser Sarmion Baratheon had been interested in the office, or Lormon Buckler; that the king would invite Beslon the Bad to take up the position if he left Vaith in the hands of a garrison commander, or that his grace was looking to try a well-known justicar recently come from Braavos -- it seems the king has made his choice, with the agreement of the small council. In the midst of deliberations,…

After seven day of festivities, the mood of King's Landing was lightened, although in certain quarters the violence and bloodshed of the riots were still a sharp memory. The City Watch of King's Landing maintained an iron watch over the city, to make sure there'd be no repetition of the troubles that led to the disgrace of the former commander, Ser Richard Harte, and this included the day of the tourney in the Cobbler's Square sponsored by the guildhalls of the city. Thirty-two knights and esquires fought for the glory of victory, as a good portion of the court made an appearance. Prince…

Following the unrest of the previous week and more, ended with bloody resolve by King Daeron, certain guilds of the city of King's Landing have banded together (at the crown's suggestion, some whisper) to throw a festival throughout the city to celebrate the dawning of the new year. Already, the guild of the stonemasons has thrown a public feast before their guildhall, distributing bread, roast pork, and quantities of apple cider and wine. Feasts, public performances by mummers and minstrels, processions, footraces and more over the rest of the week will culminate in an open tournament with a…

In the wake of the Dornish Bread Riot, much speculation at court has been concerned with the fate of Ser Richard Harte, Commander of the City Watch. Word spread after the final crushing blow against the rioters that King Daeron was less than pleased with how Ser Richard and the Watch had performed during the matter, and many wondered if Ser Richard was not now too aged to continue to serve well and honorably. After all, was it not the City Watch that failed to deal with the first inklings of riot with swift, sure force? Ser Richard was too gentle, many said, and too slow to adapt to the facts;…

The latest day and night of riot in Flea Bottom and the surrounding area proved too much for Ser Richard Harte and the City Watch to deal with, as the commander's efforts to bring a relatively bloodless end to the disorder proved futile thanks to the worst scum and villains of the city egging on their fellows with the hope of rich pickings from the wealthy areas to the east of Flea Bottom. When King Daeron learned of the latest setback, some say he raged aloud, while others say he took it calmly before calling for his retainers and captains to be roused and his squire to be woken to arm him:…

The butcher's bill: The body of the missing gold cloak officer, stripped of armor and clothing alike and left in a gutter, was recovered from an alleyway beside the Bakers' Square. Three other watchmen have been killed, and a dozen more wounded, since the rioting began Two bakers, five bakers' apprentices, and three hired guards buried at a sept on Rhaenys' Hill. At least two dozen more dead, victims of the initial riot and the chaos that has followed, gripping Flea Bottom and threatening to spill into the more wealthy surrounds. The riot that begun the previous day has continued almost…

Riot burns in the heart of King's Landing. The unpleasant but acceptable atmosphere in the city since the execution of Ser Edmund Wyl suddenly turned ugly as four Dornish hostages -- Ser Aidan Dayne, Lady Joleta Gargalen, and the twins Lady Tanyth and Ser Tamlyn Toland -- travelled into the city towards Bakers' Square. Their purpose was innocuous, purchasing bread made after Dornish fashion, but the result was anything but. The crowded square noted the Dornishmen with distaste, a few imprecations and little else sent their way as Ser Aidan and Lady Joleta purchased some bread. But then,…

King's Landing has suffered the scandal of Prince Aegon's false marriage to a common woman now most often called Merry Meg thanks to the ribald songs presently popular among the smallfolk. She was eventually returned, in ignominy, to the smithy of her actual husband in Fairmarket by men of Prince Viserys's household while her children were given to the Faith at young Prince Baelor's pious suggestion. Prince Aegon made a public apology to Reyna Saltcliffe, which set the court abuzz, especially when hard on it were some sharp words traded between the prince and Ser Jonn Lannister, who had once…

In the wake of the chaos that broke out during Princess Elaena's nameday celebration, House Targaryen has been ominously silent. Courtiers would speak with hushed voices of what had happened and what would be done, and the lords of the small council would say almost nothing at all on the matter. King Daeron held a meeting into the night with his Hand, Prince Viserys, and the day after saw them both visiting Prince Aemon as he recuperated from the terrible wound that his brother gave him. Whispers have it that the Dragonknight's beauty will no longer be what it once was, but it's just as well…

The day of Elaena Targaryen's nameday promised to be filled with a great number of gifts for the princess, as the royal court turned out in force in the Queen's Ballroom for the official celebration. But curiously, few of the nobles were taken with discussing the ninth nameday of the princess, or comparing gifts. On their lips instead was gossip, rumor, and rank innuendo touching on the recent whispers and tales that have swirled the last week concerning Prince Aegon. With her husband away to the Marches, Lady Reyna appears to have attracted Aegon's attention, and the stories of just what took…

Gathered in the throne room were what seemed to be half the nobles in the realm, as a great royal feast was arranged to close the tourney. All of the royal kin were present, and seated among the high table were lords such as Loren of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock. It was a grand occasion indeed, with music and entertainers, with a free flow of wine and a constant flow of savories, confections, roasted meats, delicacies, and more. In the course of it, a silence was called for with a royal fanfare sounded by a trumpeter, so that all might attend as King Daeron spoke. Speaking at first…

The final day of the joust had arrived with great pomp and circumstance, but before it could begin there were a hundred squires to be raised to knighthood by King Daeron's own hand. Among the new-made knights were Ethos Mertyns, Holtyn Rosby, Jan Marbrand, Urston Coldwater, and the young Lord Guy Cordwayner. After the ceremony was completed, the grand final would begin with the victors of the previous seven days defending the Queen of Love and Beauty, the Princess Daena, from all challengers. The first six champions were Ser Almer Connington, Ser Triston Templeton, Ser Gueren Waters, Balian…

As the first light of dawn broke, the Joust of Love commenced at the Tourney Grounds. A mystery knight in sable, calling himself the Black Lion and bearing the golden cloth favor of Lady Kellyn Lannister, rode out to make the first challenge of the day, Ser Almer Connington of Griffin's Roost. The first day's champion, who wore the ivory and pearl sandsilk favor of Lady Keira Sand, accepted the mystery knight's challenge. Their confrontation was sudden and violent, and as the Griffin Knight's lance shattered, the Black Lion was ripped from the saddle. The crowd saw the Black Lion rise,…

Following the archery, a tourney of sixty-four knights began, and the knights were in high form, keen for glory. Eventually only eight knights remained: Ser Harold Kenning, heir to Kayce, Ser Aidan Dayne, the squire Ethos Mertyns, Seth Blackwood, Ser Dagur Saltcliffe, Ser Bonifer Buckwell, Ser Halbert Cordwayner of the Kingsguard ... and a mystery knight, bearing the sorrowful visage of a weeping man upon his helm and attended by men wearing grey silk masks. They had proclaimed him as the Weeping Knight, and the helm with the crystal tears had been carried to three victories when he faced the…

Beginning with an archery competition on in the morning, the excitement of the day was increased because this time the ladies would compete down in the tourney fields before the eyes of the smallfolk rather than in the Red Keep's outer ward with only fellow nobility to see. The crowds were drawn by the novelty, but found much of note to comment on. Though the ladies competed at shorter distances than the men, and showed not quite the skill that the best of them did, their determination and fineness of hand stood them in good stead. More than a dozen noblewomen of high birth competed, matching…